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12 October 2012

This 'n' That

"Clarity evangelist" Will Mancini is well-known for his contributions to the ideas of leadership and "vision" for church leaders. He has been featured here before, as we asked the question, "What Is a 'Church Unique Vision Kit?'" As far as I know, we're still waiting for an actual answer to that question.

In spite of his title as a "clarity evangelist," a tweet sent out this morning by Mancini is rather, well, unclear:

So, "vision casting," which has no biblical basis whatsoever, now must take a backseat to "vision dripping," which also cannot be found in Scripture. This knowledge leads us to ask an extremely important question: Is your pastor a drip? Does your pastor drip? When you find yourself in the front pew on those Sunday mornings when you arrive a bit late, do you find yourself drenched in vision drips?

These are questions which must be asked and answered. After all, we must presume that if your vision casting pastor isn't also dripping vision, then clearly he is failing in his self-declared mission. Nobody wants a pastor who isn't walking around with a hanky in his pocket to catch the excess vision drips.

As for you, the mere pew-sitter and church member, if you do not wish to drip vision yourself, we suggest a simple antihistamine. That should dry it right up.

Okay, you can thank Chris Rosebrough for bringing the above tweet to my attention, and thus for inspiring the bizarre commentary that followed. With that, please enjoy this beautiful Fall day, as well as your week in review (kind of):

A new website went live early this week: The Elephant's Debt. It likely will be of great interest to those who have been affected by the fallout of Elephant Room 2, as well as those who have been following the recent wretched decline of Harvest Bible Chapel and pastor James MacDonald, much of which has been covered here at Do Not Be Surprised.

No doubt that many expected to see some fanfare on this site for The Elephant's Debt. In lieu of that for now, I offer you some thoughts shared by pastor Ken Silva. Chris Rosebrough also discussed these issues on his radio show, Fighting for the Faith. At this time, I've not much more to add to what these two men have said.

About a day or so after The Elephant's Debt began to make the usual rounds, Carl Trueman posted a rather timely piece at Reformation 21. Methinks he may have caught wind of some elephant stench.

Marsha West has written a good article on last week's live taping of Oprah's Lifeclass with Joel Osteen and Rick Warren.

Speaking of Osteen, have you ever noticed how he loves to use Proverbs to propagate his false teaching that everyone deserves to be rich and prosperous? Yeah, that would be a misinterpretation of wisdom literature.

The elephant's smelly deposit or rather debit finally showed up in DOCUMENTED way and the emperor James MacDonald is proven black on white docs as a lying, conniving and manipulating hypocrite most of us knew him to be and for years too.Nothing like reading about the lavish lifestyle of the "humble servant" and his greedy and manipulative politics of personal enrichment and power combined with a massive indebtedness of HBC. Remembering his call to "sacrificial giving" takes on a different context and means "sacrificial giving" to his deep and wanting pockets and pockets of the banks which are making money of HBC folks. Hey to take the church with 10 million dollars in equity in 2003 to 65 million dollars in debt in 2010 (now probably few million more if not more than few..) while forcing for himself a 40% pay rise in the amount of $100,000 per year while telling many struggling and suffering folks to tie up their belts and be more financially responsible does take equally massive dose of a fortified rubble and theatrical skills all of that with calling on the name of Jesus Christ every few minutes... Folks as documented it works.

"In October 2005, Pastor James MacDonald purchased a home in Inverness, Illinois for $1.9 million. His original mortgage on the home was for 15 years and $1.4 million dollars, so his down payment was roughly $500,000. Assuming a fictionally and absurdly low interest rate of 3%, he would have had a mortgage payment of approximately $9,660 per month. Obviously, as interest rates were higher at that time, his mortgage payment would have been higher as well. This figure also does not include any property taxes on this home, which in 2011 were $26,961.28 or $2,246.77 per month. Ultimately, what must be recognized is the simple fact that before any loan can be approved by a bank, the lendee must be able to provide substantial evidence that he or she is capable of making the regular payments. So, as of 2005, it can reasonably be assumed that MacDonald was already earning enough money to prove that he was capable of making the payments on this home.

Regarding MacDonald’s regular salary as an employee of HBC, it has been reported, that as of 2009, Pastor James MacDonald received a $100,000 raise. This elevated his HBC base salary from an already robust $250,000 to a staggering $350,000 per year. What’s more, in addition to the substantial raise he received through the church, Pastor James MacDonald had also received significant yearly raises from Walk in the Word. In 2006, it was reported to the IRS that MacDonald was earning $124,702 per year from Walk in the Word. Just three years later, his compensation from WITH had grown by 32%, and he was now receiving $164,511 per year."

It's alright dear brother and I hear your frustration.. Personally I don't care about money. God owns everything and having a relationship and pleasing HIM is all I desire-To know Christ my Solid Rock, My Redeemer, My Joy, Peace and Hope, His Unfailing love, Ohhh His Faithfulness.. I'm not going to go around chasing after it like the Pagans do. I wanna be his CHILD and rest in his loving arms. I'll let HIM provide for me as he sees fit. This frees me up from snares and heartaches, from going after things that don't amount to anything of eternal value. When we read God's word and especially in Proverbs about money, then we get the right perspective that anyone including MacDonald who is trusting in his money, will fall. so instead of me getting angry with him getting rich I actually feel very sorry for him. The truth does that because the truth revealed in Scripture shows us the outcome of it all...Our confidence is in the LORD Almighty. HE is our Refuge and Strength and his Name is our Strong Tower~

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow."-Proverbs 13:11

"A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat."-Proverbs 13:8

"Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."-Proverbs 11:4

"Of what use is money in the hands of a fool since he has no desire to get wisdom."-Proverbs 17;16

"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall."-Proverbs 18:11

and many more..

We know what our Lord Jesus said about money.~"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."-Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13

I just wonder why is James MacDonald still a Pastor when he's not there oftentimes? If James wants to be a "Rock Star Pastor" then step down out of the pulpit. This is inexcusable of him running around pretending to be someone in their 20's grunge and tattooing himself- it's just sophomoric. He's trying to appeal to the world and God will have NONE of it.. -1 John 2:15

Proverbs 17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.

Thank you for your words of sanctified wisdom and much needed too. If I sound angry that is because I am for if anything I truly cannot stand hypocrisy and especially this type of hypocrisy done consequently in the name of The Lord. The fact that I am currently being majorly oppressed by a different kind of a hypocrite and a heathen only aggravates it. I am asking you and all children of the Most High reading this for a prayer of protection and deliverance from the hands of the wicked and their trap just as it is described in Psalm 1O and Psalm 17. Thank you in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory and may Triune God bless you.

Dear Despeville I'll be lifting you up to our heavenly Father in much needed prayer...

the main Scripture that comes to me is in Psalm 37.. Please read it sometime soon. here are a couple of verses that I hope will be renewed hope to you, comfort and gained confidence in our Lord-the God of all comfort. May GOD's Word be a blessing in your life~

Psa 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psa 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.

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